"Ah, why don't chief tell me more about this village?"
"Alright, what master Ikki wants to know?"
"How many people in this village have?"
"Around 200 people master Ikki"
"What they do for a living?"
"Mostly farming, some hunting, lumberjacks and few people with certain skill do as their respective skill, like Lukas, he works as a blacksmith, there are also some carpenters, we also have tailors"
"Is there any cattle here chief? Instead some chicken in the back of your house I didn't see any animal like horse or cow"
"We have some master Ikki, but we placed them in another place in the village together. You know their shit can bring bad smell if the stable too close to the house"
"Oh, that really thoughtful chief, you're right about that. What kind of cattle there?"
"Some horses, cows, goat. We use horse and cow to plow the field, and goat for its meat and milk"
"Is there any other village like this village?"
"The other villages? There're some. Like us, they also mostly founded by runaway slave"
"Did they make contact with your village?"
"Sometimes we trade goods with them, and share some information too"
"why didn't your village and their village unite and make a bigger settlement?"
Chief Harvard smile bitterly hearing my question before answer it
"The same old problem from ancient time, the leadership, they want their chief to take leadership, my people want me to keep the leadership"
Chief Harvard take a deep breath before continuing his story
"It would be better if I tell master Ikki the history of this continent before I tell about the current situation"
"please chief Harvard, I would like to hear that"
"Thousands year ago, this continent is under control of one big empire, Erathia empire, the emperor can bring peace and unity throughout the continent. The imperium lasted hundred years before meeting their falls. The cause is the last emperor didn't have a son as heirs. He only has two daughters. Both of princess husband, the prince consort, feel they have right to inherit the throne, but also the last emperor brother. This makes the Imperium split into three factions. They are first princess faction, second princess faction, and emperor brother faction. Because this crisis many vassal state choose to get their own freedom and not involved in this civil war. The war situation is very chaotic while facing other faction, one faction also need to subdue those rebel vassals. You can imagine how chaotic the situation back there. Three factions make their own kingdom, which are the current three kingdoms that still exists now. The original Erathia empire now even its remnants is no longer can be seen. The sacred forest that we just visit rumored to be the capital of Erathia empire thousand years ago.
I nodded hearing that explanation, in history class, I already read many destructions of the kingdom just from civil wars. Japan also has a similar experience during the warring state. The Nobunaga clan that once powerful clan also declining after Oda Nobunaga dies, leaving his sons, Nobutaka and Nobutada fight for clan leadership. Chief Harvard continuing his story,
"After thousand years of endless wars, the power and resources of each kingdom are depleted. No kingdom able to make a big military movement against another kingdom. All they can do is maintain their vassal and territory that they get from subduing the rebel vassals. But it doesn't mean the war is over. Although the head kingdom is made no movement, didn't mean their vassal just sit still and quietly. The diplomatic wars just begun, start by persuading a vassal to defects from their own head kingdom. And if a vassal defected to another kingdom, do you think the previous kingdom will let it go? Of course not. Although they do not send their own army, they can order the neighboring vassal that still under their command to conquer the defector vassal by the promise they gain territory of the defecting vassal. Can they refuse the order? No. Did they want to miss chance for larger territory? No. that's why wars still happen until now"
"Aside from the war, the head kingdom also applied annual tribute from its vassal to fill their empty treasury. Master Ikki, during a long time of war, do you think ordinary people can cultivate land peacefully?"
I shake my head. I know when war is broken, most food will be drafted for army logistic.
"If ordinary people can't cultivate the land, then who will do? Only nobles and aristocrats that have power able to cultivate the lands by using their slaves. That's why slavery exists in this world, also a prosperous business. Where those slave traders get the goods? From army. When they conquer a city or pillage a village, they not only take resources but also take the people, man, and woman. If the woman is beautiful, they will be sold to the nobles or aristocrats for high prices. If their look is not beautiful but not bad, they go to brothels. If they not good, they go to army camp as stress relief. I know you understand what I mean by stress relieve, master Ikki"
I nodded, I know what kind of fate waiting for those women in the army camp. Still, I admire how broad vision that chief Harvard has.
"I know chief, in short, it's hell waiting for them there. Chief, you have such knowledge, I assume you're not ordinary civilian right?"
"hahaha, master Ikki also wise. It's true, I used to be a junior priest and a teacher before this. Until the city, I live conquered by the enemy and I was captured before I can escape here. During my run, I met people who like me, escape from slavery. Some of them also people who tired of endless war. I also met Silvie mother on my run hahaha. Oh sorry, I become telling my own life story master Ikki"
"It's alright Chief, your personal story also interesting"
"Ah right, master Ikki maybe still tired from today trip, why you take a rest and we continue this story later?"
"because you mention it, I just realize that I'm feeling tired. Moreover, I still have going there again tomorrow. I need rest for tomorrow trip too"
"Sure, I've arranged Matius and Marius to meet you in the same place tomorrow"
"Thanks, chief"
After that, I'm going to my room and sleep. Because of my body really tired now, I fall asleep no longer after I close my eyes.